Lynx set to meet Shock

The Lynx, coming off a tough outing on the West Coast, meet Tulsa at 6 tonight at Target Center.

Kelly Parsons here, subbing for the vacationing Kent Youngblood.

On paper, the Lynx easily outmatch the Shock. Despite coming off a loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday night, Minnesota (5-2) leads the West Conference by half a game, while the Shock (3-7) are in fifth place out of six teams. Minnesota is playing with a completely healthy team, while the Tulsa could be short two players.

But the Shock has momentum in its corner. Tulsa will look for a win tonight to continue a two-game streak, having won games against the Chicago Sky on Thursday and the Seattle Storm last night.

No Minnesota starter scored more than seven points Friday in Los Angeles, where the Lynx lost their ninth game in the past 10 at the Staples Center. Lucky for the Lynx — who could slip in the conference standings with a loss tonight — they have yet to lose in the Target Center this season.

Tulsa player and former Lynx guard Candace Wiggins has been steadily improving as of late, scoring 14 or more in three of her last four games, including a season-high 18 against the Lynx last time the two teams met. In that game, Maya Moore was held to just 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting, but the Lynx won, 83-74.

Limiting Moore’s output again could be a key to victory for Tulsa. But after Moore’s two-point performance in Friday’s loss, it would be surprising to see one of the league’s best scorers (averaging 18.1 points per game) have two consecutive poor outings.